This is largely a theoretical question about macro variables. I have two macro variables, v1 and v2. Both contain 3 characters consisting of 'a' (e.g. a single quote, the lowercase letter a, and the ending single quote). If you test their values, you'll find that they are equal: dm log 'clear'; dm output 'clear'; option symbolgen mlogic mprint; %macro myMacro; %let v1='a'; %let v2=%str(%')a%str(%'); %if &v1=&v2 %then %put 1; %else %put 0; %mend; %myMacro Log: 1 dm log 'clear'; dm output 'clear'; 2 option symbolgen mlogic mprint; 3 4 %macro myMacro; 5 %let v1='a'; 6 %let v2=%str(%')a%str(%'); 7 %if &v1=&v2 %then %put 1; %else %put 0; 8 %mend; 9 %myMacro MLOGIC(MYMACRO): Beginning execution. MLOGIC(MYMACRO): %LET (variable name is V1) MLOGIC(MYMACRO): %LET (variable name is V2) SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable V1 resolves to 'a' SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable V2 resolves to 'a' SYMBOLGEN: Some characters in the above value which were subject to macro quoting have been unquoted for printing. MLOGIC(MYMACRO): %IF condition &v1=&v2 is TRUE MLOGIC(MYMACRO): %PUT 1 1 MLOGIC(MYMACRO): Ending execution. However, these 2 macro variables are different as illustrated in the next program: data test; x='a'; y=1; output; x='b'; y=2; output; run; /*macro - this works*/ %let v1='a'; proc sql; select * from test where x=&v1; quit; /*macro2 - this doesn't work*/ %let v2=%str(%')a%str(%'); proc sql; select * from test where x=&v2; quit; %put _all_; This is the log: 20 data test; 21 x='a'; y=1; output; 22 x='b'; y=2; output; 23 run; NOTE: The data set WORK.TEST has 2 observations and 2 variables. NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time): real time 0.07 seconds cpu time 0.04 seconds 24 25 /*macro - this works*/ 26 %let v1='a'; 27 proc sql; 28 select * from test 29 where x=&v1; SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable V1 resolves to 'a' 30 quit; NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time): real time 0.09 seconds cpu time 0.06 seconds 31 32 /*macro2 - this doesn't work*/ 33 %let v2=%str(%')a%str(%'); 34 proc sql; 35 select * from test 36 where x=&v2; SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable V2 resolves to 'a' SYMBOLGEN: Some characters in the above value which were subject to macro quoting have been unquoted for printing. NOTE: Line generated by the macro variable "V2". 1 'a' - 22 - 200 ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a name, a quoted string, a numeric constant, a datetime constant, a missing value, (, *, +, -, ALL, ANY, BTRIM, CALCULATED, CASE, INPUT, PUT, SELECT, SOME, SUBSTRING, TRANSLATE, USER. ERROR 200-322: The symbol is not recognized and will be ignored. 37 quit; NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors. NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time): real time 0.01 seconds cpu time 0.03 seconds 38 39 %put _all_; GLOBAL SQLOBS 0 GLOBAL V2 a GLOBAL SQLOOPS 0 GLOBAL SYS_SQL_IP_ALL -1 GLOBAL SYS_SQL_IP_STMT GLOBAL SQLXOBS 0 GLOBAL SQLRC 8 GLOBAL SQLEXITCODE 0 GLOBAL V1 'a' AUTOMATIC AFDSID 0 AUTOMATIC AFDSNAME In the log generated by %put _all_, the macro variable v2 has some garbage (e.g. delta characters). Here's is my question. The value of the macro variable v2 is actually different from 'a'. This is a deliberate design by SAS or a bug?%
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